West Midlands Firefighters Haul Coronavirus Victims as Death Toll Soars
Firefighters in the West Midlands have stepped up to a grim new role – moving the bodies of those who have died from coronavirus. The region is under severe strain as fatalities mount in hospitals, care homes, and private residences.
Special Teams Tackle Grim Task
The West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) has formed a dedicated Body Movement Team made up of trained and experienced firefighters. These volunteers usually work in multi-agency response, chemical, and urban search-and-rescue teams but are now handling the grim business of transporting the deceased.
Each firefighter is fully equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE), including advanced face masks with reusable respirators designed for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats (CBRN). They work 12-hour shifts, day and night, placing bodies into body bags and moving them with care and precision.
Allies in Crisis: Training & Support in Place
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) secured strict health and safety policies before this operation began. Firefighters have undergone psychological readiness training covering emotional resilience, compassion fatigue, and burnout to brace them for the emotional toll.
There is also 24/7 support available from WMFS. Future plans include allowing firefighters to drive body-movement vehicles if needed.
The Human Cost of the Pandemic
Recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) data revealed that nearly one in four deaths in the West Midlands were due to coronavirus in the week ending 3 April – that’s 529 out of 1,812 deaths.
“We hoped that it would never come to this, but there are now a considerable number of casualties in the West Midlands and firefighters are ready to step up and assist with the movement of bodies,” said Andrew Scattergood, FBU West Midlands regional secretary.
“Our members are proud to provide a humanitarian service. They are best placed to assist with this harrowing aspect of the crisis. All emergency services are pulling together in this difficult period to help our communities through this outbreak. It’s deeply unpleasant work, but it is, unfortunately, necessary at this time.”
Steve Price-Hunt, FBU West Midlands brigade secretary, added: “Firefighters join their service to save lives and for most body recovery is a rare task. These teams will likely see more bodies far more frequently than they are used to – and do so under far more hazardous circumstances.
“We know this work will be difficult, but the FBU has worked hard to make sure that firefighters have the proper training and support to carry out this work safely.”
